“How to monitor employee productivity and performance management? i am an hr manager in a growing company, how can i monitor it?”

"Most companies use themonitor employees software to tracking the e-mail messages. Employers can use software to automatically find personal or offensive e-mail messages that have been sent or received, and intercept and filter messages while they are being sent or received. Companies also keylogger other Internet traffic such as Web sites visited by employees and how much time employees spend sending instant messages and visiting chat rooms. Should companies tracking employees with the employee tracking software Internet communications? How can a company balance workplace security and productivity with employee privacy?"

It is worthwhile re-emphasizing to the employees that as much as the application of the Internet can improve both profitability and productivity of the company, it can as well 'drive' the company to the 'tunnels' of business collapse, if its not applied to benefit of the company. The workers become aware that the Net is just another opportunity for them to further 'raise' their company to better competitive edge. Self-initiation and personal control must be developed within the workers.

The management should then plan how to initiate an acceptable use of the Internet. The managers should get down to the employees workplace and apply the 'management by walking around' approach to inform the employees of the benefits of the Net in the company as well as the challenges that face the workers in applying this innovation. The managers should not fail to inform the workers that the greatest threat to the use of the Internet at workplace is the abuse of its use. The workers need to know that they will be 'tempted' and 'overwhelmed' to think and attempt using the Net for personal gains. With the high socializing tendency attached to the Internet, there is obviously a 'quest' to use it for personal socializing purposes.

Of course, the easiest way to find out whether you’re being keyloggers is just to ask your employers. Ethical considerations will most likely push them to tell you the truth, and they probably know that if they lie it could be grounds for legal trouble later on. The responsible employer should create an Acceptable Use Policy to make what is appropriate in the workplace completely clear. But if you think you’re being watched (and you’re pretty sure it’s not the CIA or your ex), try a standard spyware detection program or monitor computer processes.

If you do find you’re being keylogging, depending on the circumstances, you might be able to take legal action against your employer. The only legal limit on workplace surveillance comes in the form of the ECPA (the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, passed in 1986), which prohibits employers from deliberately eavesdropping on personal conversations. The ECPA does not protect any kind of communication except the spoken word, though, so your every action while at work, including personal e-mails, is most likely subject to review by your employer. You might not be able to take your employer to court for watching you at work, but at least you’ll know to quit spending so much time playing Scrabulous on the company dime.

Watch Live what your employees are doing on their computer systems during office hours using Computer Monitoring tool. The utility facilitates real-time monitoring of employees’ computer activities and offers both online as well as offline recording facilities.